Shrub rose plant named &#39;WEKRUNEFLO&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new variety of Shrub rose suitable for garden decoration, having flowers of orangey pink with a yellow eye coloration.

CLASSIFICATION

The present invention relates to a new Rosa hybrida plant.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The new plant has the varietal denomination ‘WEKruneflo’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Shrub Rose. Ithas as its seed parent the variety known as ‘WEKsactrumi’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 15,066) and a non-disseminated seedling of my creation as itspollen parent with the following genetic origin (Neon Cowboy×FlowerCarpet).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the features which distinguish the new variety from otherpresently available and commercial rose cultivars known to the inventorare the following combinations of characteristics: its large clusters oforangey pink with a yellow eye flower coloration, its excellent degreeof resistance to powdery mildew, downy mildew and rust, its veryabundant bloom and its even bushy rounded moderately spreading growinghabit.

The plant has a bushy rounded moderately spreading growing habit,suitable for outdoor garden decoration.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by budding as performed in KernCounty and Pomona, Calif., shows that the foregoing and otherdistinguishing characteristics come true to form and are established andtransmitted through succeeding asexual propagations. ‘WEKruneflo’ may beasexually propagated by cuttings, budding and grafting. The budding andgrafting successfully occurred on the plant/rootstock Rosa hybrida cv.Dr. Huey (not patented).

COMPARISONS WITH PARENTS

The new rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, ‘WEKsactrumi’ bythe following combination of characteristics: whereas ‘WEKruneflo’ bearsmedium sized flowers (about 7.2 to about 9.3 cm. in diameter) of orangeypink with a yellow eye coloration, ‘WEKsactrumi’ bears significantlysmaller flowers (about 4 to about 5 cm. in diameter) of cherry redcoloration. The new variety is classified as a Shrub rose with a bushyrounded moderately spreading medium height growing habit (about 100 toabout 125 cm. in height), whereas the seed parent is classified as aMiniature rose with a bushy moderately spreading significantly shortergrowing habit (about 60 to about 77 cm. in height).

The new variety may be distinguished from its pollen parent, anon-disseminated seedling of my creation by the following combination ofcharacteristics: whereas ‘WEKruneflo’ bears semi-double flowers (about 6to 8 petals) of orangey pink with a yellow eye coloration, thenon-disseminated seedling bears double flowers of light pink with awhite ‘eye’ coloration with significantly heavier petalage (about 17 to25 petals).

The new variety has a bushy rounded moderately spreading medium heightgrowing habit (about 100 to about 125 cm. in height), whereas the pollenparent has a bushy spreading significantly shorter growing habit (about56 to about 75 cm. in height).

COMPARISON WITH THE CLASEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The new variety may be distinguished from its closest commerciallyavailable cultivar, ‘MEIzmea’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,175) by thefollowing combination of characteristics: whereas ‘WEKruneflo’ bearssemi-double flowers (about 6 to 8 petals) of orangey pink with a yelloweye coloration, ‘MEIzmea’ bears single flowers of bright red with alight of pink center coloration with significantly lesser petalage(commonly approximately 5 petals). The new variety bears medium sizeflowers (about 7.2 to about 9.3 cm. in diameter), whereas the closestcommercially available cultivar bears significantly smaller flowers(approximately 2.2 cm. in diameter on average).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photograph illustrates the new variety and shows theflowering thereof from bud to full bloom depicted in color as nearlycorrect as it is possible to make in a color illustration of thecharacter. The branches used for the photograph came from 3 to 4year-old rose plants of the new variety grown outdoors in Pomona, Calif.in the month of November. Throughout this specification, colorreferences and/or values are based upon the Color Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society (1966) except where common terms of colordefinition are employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following description is of 3 to 4 year-old rose plants of the newvariety grown outdoors in Pomona, Calif. in the month of November.Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, cultural and climaticconditions, as well as differences in conditions of light and soil.

FLOWER

The new variety sometimes bears its flowers singly, usually in clustersof 7 to 17 per stem. Flowers may be borne in regular rounded clusters onstrong somewhat short to medium length stems (about 26 to about 65 cm.).Outdoors, the plant blooms very abundantly and nearly continuouslyduring the growing season. The flowers have a light tea fragrance.

BUD

The peduncle is about 2.4 to about 3.9 cm. in length, of slender caliper(about 0.2 to about 0.3 cm. in diameter), and usually erect to somewhatstiff It is moderately rough, with some stipitate glands and very fewhairs. Peduncle color is between 144A and 143B often heavily suffused,especially on the side exposed to the sun, with between 187A and 187B.

Before the calyx breaks, the bud is about 0.9 to about 1.3 cm. indiameter at the widest point, about 1.3 to about 1.6 cm. in length, andpointed to somewhat ovoid in shape. The surface of the bud bears about 5foliaceous appendages, usually with slender foliaceous parts extendingbeyond the tip of the bud about ½ or more of its length. Bud color isbetween 146A and 146B sometimes lightly suffused, especially on the sideexposed to the sun, with between 187A and 187B.

The sepals are about 2.8 to about 3.4 cm. in length and about 0.5 toabout 0.7 cm. in width at the widest point. The outer surface color ofthe sepal is between 146A and 146B sometimes lightly suffused,especially on the side exposed to the sun, with between 187A and 187B.The outer surface of the sepal is smooth and bears about 2 foliaceousappendages with very few stipitate glands and hairs. The inner surfacecolor of the sepal is near 139C. The inner surface of the sepal iscovered with fine wooly tomentum; sepal margins are lined with somestipitate glands and hairs.

The receptacle of the flower is somewhat short in length (about 0.4 toabout 0.5 cm.) and moderately thin in caliper (about 0.4 to about 0.6cm. in diameter). The receptacle is urn-shaped in form. Its surface issmooth with somewhat thin fleshy walls. The receptacle color is between146A and 146B.

As the petals open (after the calyx breaks), the bud is about 1.1 toabout 1.3 cm. in diameter at the widest point, about 1.5 to about 2.1cm. in length, and pointed to somewhat ovoid in form. The color of theunder surfaces of the newly opened petals is near 54C, graduallysuffusing to the edge of the petal with between 54B and 53B. At thepoint where the petal attaches, there is a large zone of between 1C and4C. The color of the upper surfaces of the newly opened petals is near45B sometimes moderately suffused with near 46A. At the point where thepetal attaches, there is a large zone of between 154C and 154D.

BLOOM

When fully open, the bloom ranges from about 7.2 to about 9.3 cm. indiameter. Petalage is semi-double with about 6 to 8 petals and about 1to 3 petaloids irregularly arranged. When partially open, the bloom formis moderately cupped to somewhat ovoid, and the petals are moderatelycupped to undulated with undulated petal edges somewhat reflexedoutward. When fully open, the bloom form is more cupped, and the petalsare loosely cupped to undulated with undulated petal edges moderatelyreflexed outward.

PETALS

The substance of the petals is slightly heavy and of medium thickness,with upper surfaces moderately satiny and under surfaces somewhat shiny.The petals are about 2.9 to about 4.0 cm. in length and about 3.5 to 4.5cm. in width at the widest point. Petal margins are entire.

The outer petals are broadly obovate to somewhat rounded in shape withrounded to moderately retuse apices. The inner petals are broadlyobovate in shape with rounded to moderately retuse apices.

Petaloids are about 0.1 to about 2.3 cm. in length and about 0.5 toabout 1.5 cm. in width at the widest point. Petaloids are irregularlyshaped nearly oblanceolate to obovate with somewhat obtuse apices.

NEWLY OPENED FLOWER

The under surface color of the outer, intermediate and inner petals isbetween 18A and 23C gradually suffusing toward the petal edge withbetween 54C and 52D sometimes blushed with between 60C and 59C. At thepoint where the petal attaches, there is a moderately large zone ofbetween 154C and 154D. The upper surface color of the outer,intermediate and inner petals is between 46C and 52B sometimesmoderately blushed with between 46B and 46A. At the point where thepetal attaches, there is large zone of between 1D and 1B.

The under and upper surface colors of the petaloids are similar incoloration to the upper and under surfaces of the inner petals. Thegeneral tonality of the newly opened flower is between 46C and 52Bsometimes moderately blushed with between 46B and 46A.

THREE-DAY-OLD FLOWER

The under surface color of the outer, intermediate and inner petals isbetween 56A and 49C sometimes lightly blushed with between 61A and 61B.At the point where the petal attaches, there is a large zone of between154D and 2D. The upper surface color of the outer, intermediate andinner petals is between 58B and 52B sometimes moderately blushed withbetween 53B and 53C. At the point where the petal attaches, there is alarge zone of between 154C and 154D.

The under and upper surface colors of the petaloids are similar incoloration to the upper and under surfaces of the inner petals.

The general tonality of the three-day-old flower is between 58B and 52Bsometimes moderately blushed with between 53B and 53C.

On the spent bloom, the petals usually drop off cleanly and are notparticularly affected by cold, hot, wet, or dry weather.

In November in Pomona, Calif., blooms on the bush growing outdoorsgenerally last about four to five days. Cut roses from plants grownoutdoors and kept at normal indoor living temperatures generally lastabout four to five days.

MALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens are many in number (average about 127) and are arrangedregularly about the pistils; a few are mixed with petaloids. Thefilaments are of somewhat long length (about 0.5 to about 1.3 cm.) mostwith anthers. Filaments are between 3A and 5B in color. The anthers aresomewhat small for the class and all open approximately at the sametime. Anther color when immature is near 22A on the external part andnear 13D on the internal part. Anther color at maturity is near 165A onthe external part and near 200C on the internal part. Pollen is abundantand between 18D and 13D in color.

FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Pistils vary in number (average about 44). The styles are somewhat even,moderately long in length (about 0.2 to about 0.7 cm.), somewhat heavyin caliper and bunched. Stigma color is near 13B. Style color is near150D. Ovaries are usually all enclosed in the calyx. Hips have not beenobserved on this variety when grown in Pomona, Calif.

FOLIAGE

The compound leaves are usually comprised of three to seven leaflets andare borne abundantly. The five-leaflet leaves are about 6.0 to about17.0 cm. in length and about 4.5 to about 10.0 cm. in width at thewidest point, leathery to somewhat crisp in texture, and glossy infinish on the upper side and semi-glossy in finish on the underside. Theleaves have a pinnate venation pattern. The terminal leaflets are about2.8 to about 6.0 cm. in length and about 2.3 to about 3.0 cm. in widthat the widest point, shaped oval to ovate with somewhat acute toacuminate apices and moderately rounded to somewhat acute bases. Theirmargins are usually simply serrate.

The upper surface color of the mature leaf is between 147A and 137A. Theunder surface color of the mature leaf is between 147B and 137C. Theupper and under colors of the leaf veins on the mature leaf are similarin coloration to the upper and under surfaces colors of the mature leaf.The upper surface color of the young leaf is between 137B and 141A oftenmoderately suffused with between 187A and 187B on the leaf margins. Theunder surface color of the young leaf is between 146B and 137C oftenmoderately suffused, especially on the leaf margins and the midrib, withbetween 187B and 183B. The under and upper colors of the leaf veins onthe young leaf are similar in coloration to the upper and under surfacescolors of the young leaf.

The rachis is somewhat light to average in caliper and smooth. The upperside is shallowly grooved with few stipitate glands on the edges of thegrooves. The underside of the rachis is smooth. The rachis color is near146C on the underside and near 138A on the upper side often moderatelysuffused, especially on the young leaf, with near 187B.

The stipules are about 1.5 to about 3.5 cm. in length and wide (about0.4 to about 1.2 cm. in width) with long straight points that usuallyturn out at an angle of more than 45 degrees. The under and uppersurface color of the stipule is between 137B and 138A often moderatelysuffused, especially on the young leaf, with between 187A and 187B. Thepetiole is somewhat light to average in caliper and smooth. The upperside is shallowly grooved with few stipitate glands on the edges of thegrooves. The underside of the petiole is smooth. The petiole is about0.9 to about 2.3 cm. in length and about 0.1 to 0.25 cm. in width at thewidest point. The petiole color is near 146C on the underside and near138A on the upper side often moderately suffused, especially on theyoung leaf, with near 187B.

The plant displays an excellent degree of resistance to powdery mildew,downy mildew and rust and an average degree of resistance to black spotas compared to other commercial varieties grown under comparableconditions in Pomona, Calif. The plant's winter hardiness anddrought/heat tolerance are yet to be determined.

GROWTH

The plant has a bushy rounded moderately spreading medium height growinghabit (about 100 to about 125 cm. in height and about 125 to about 225cm. spread at the widest point), with full branching. It displaysvigorous growth and the canes are of somewhat heavy caliper for theclass (about 1.2 to about 1.8 cm. in diameter at the widest point).

The color of the major stems is between 146B and 146C. They bear fewlarge prickles that are about 0.5 to about 1.0 cm. in length. The largeprickles are almost straight and hooked slightly downward with amoderately long broad oval base; prickle color is between 166A and 165A.The major stem bears few small prickles of similar shape and coloration.

The color of the branches is between 146B and 138A sometimes lightlysuffused with between 187B and 183A. They bear few large prickles whichare of similar size and shape to the large prickles on the major stems;prickle color is between 165A and 166A. The branches bear few smallprickles of similar shape and coloration.

The color of the new shoots is between 146B and 138A sometimes lightlysuffused with between .187B and 183A. They bear some large prickleswhich are of similar size and shape to the large prickles on the majorstems; prickle color is between 146C and 147C often lightly suffusedwith between 187B and 187C. The shoots bear few small prickles ofsimilar shape and coloration.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Shrub rose plant of the varietysubstantially as described and illustrated herein.